Donors losing interest in Rohingyas?
We are surprised to learn that donor agencies are "losing interest" in providing food assistance for the displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh. This was expressed by WFP's Executive Director during a meeting with our PM. It is disheartening to see that the world is showing signs of compassion fatigue, while the crisis shows no signs of waning.
The Rohingya crisis has every potential to become a lingering problem for Bangladesh. When violence against Rohingyas by Myanmar army was intensifying, the world called on Bangladesh to open its borders for the fleeing refugees, which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to her credit, did. Now, in the midst of the ongoing crisis, the world cannot expect Bangladesh, a nation with its own severe economic challenges, to indefinitely bear the burden of nearly one million refugees.
When Bangladesh and Myanmar struck a deal for the repatriation of these refugees, it garnered widespread criticism, as it failed to guarantee full rights to Rohingyas. Clearly, Bangladesh wants the Rohingyas to be repatriated as soon as possible. If donor agencies fail to contribute, how is it practically possible for Bangladesh to provide these Rohingyas with prolonged shelter when the country itself struggles with innumerable problems?
Most importantly, what message does this news send to other countries facing an imminent threat of a refugee crisis? If the international community is not committed to providing continuous help, will other countries be convinced to open their borders when refugees are at their doorstep in a future crisis?
Bangladesh responded to the crisis across its border in the most humanitarian way possible, while the international community has been criticised, and rightly so, for its sluggish response. Now, the time has come for the world, especially countries that can play key roles in solving the crisis, India and China especially, to play its part.
The role of international aid agencies in providing immediate relief and later other forms of support to the government in handling the crisis is laudable. But this support must continue to ensure a minimal sense of normalcy in the refugee camps. There is no scope whatsoever for donors to lose interest. The international community, moreover, should vigorously engage with the Myanmar government so that Rohingyas can return to their homeland, with their full rights protected.
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